Johansson brings quiet leadership to Capitals

Originally published on EuroReport.com in 1999

By Lucas Aykroyd

Memory check: who captained Team Sweden at the 1998 Winter Olympic Games in Nagano? If you guessed Mats Sundin or Peter Forsberg, no one would raise an eyebrow. But as it turns out, the man with the C was a quietly effective veteran defender—no, not Niklas Lidstrom—who’s plied his trade for both the Buffalo Sabres and Washington Capitals. Yes, Calle Johansson is still going strong at age 32, his 5-11, 203-pound frame as solid as when he claimed NHL All-Rookie honors with 38 assists for the Sabres in 1987-88. More than 400 assists later, the Gothenburg native is poised to become Washington’s all-time leading scorer among defensemen, as Scott Stevens’s record of 429 points lies in striking range. EuroReport’s Lucas Aykroyd interviewed Johansson after the Capitals made new Canuck netminder Felix Potvin look good in his Vancouver debut by dropping a 6-3 decision at GM Place on 22 December.

EuroReport: How do you account for your fast offensive start this season with 18 points?

Calle Johansson: Well, if you get involved in the play and skate a lot instead of watching what happens, if you try to create stuff and follow up what the forwards create, usually good things will happen. I’ve got to give a lot of credit to Adam Oates [who played his 1,000th career game this evening]. He’s been playing good with me, both on the power play and regular shifts. He’s fed me good passes, and when I pass to him on the breakout, he’s done a lot of good things and gotten me the second assist, so to speak.

EuroReport: Defensively, the team has had troubles in the last three games with 17 goals against. What’s happened?

Johansson: Against Edmonton, it was bad penalty killing. Tonight against Vancouver, it was sloppy play in our end. Simple mistakes like not taking out the open man. It happens. Just bad plays.

EuroReport: How do you approach playing with Brendan Witt as your defense partner?

Johansson: He’s a young guy, and I like to read off him and see what he does, because he’s a great player but it’s easier for me to read off him than vice versa. I think since I’ve been around a little longer, it’s more than fair that I play “second fiddle” and kind of let him do what he wants to do.

EuroReport: What are your thoughts on Ulf Dahlen’s return to the NHL with the Capitals after a two-year stint in Sweden?

Johansson: It’s great. It’s unbelievable how good he’s playing. Right now, I think he’s definitely one of our top forwards along with Adam Oates and Steve Konowalchuk. I’ve always known how good he is. I played with him on the national team and in Sweden for a few years. It’s not a surprise to me. I’m happy he’s playing well after a rough start. When he first came back, you could see he’d lost a bit of the NHL tempo. But as soon as he got a couple of games under his belt, that changed. Now, he’s as strong along the boards as he ever was.

EuroReport: This season, you have a chance to become Washington’s all-time leading scorer among defensemen. How does it feel when you look back on what you’ve accomplished for this team?

Johansson: I didn’t even know that! Well, if that’s the case, that’s great. My family and I have been fortunate to be in Washington a long time. I have nothing but good things to say about this organization. I am happy they’ve kept me here. As far as individual scoring stats go, I don’t really care about that.

EuroReport: What would you consider the highlight of your hockey career so far?

Johansson: Probably going to the Stanley Cup finals in 1998. But that was also the lowlight of my career, since we lost it. Still, getting there was a great feeling. I hope I get the chance to do that again.

EuroReport: Why did the team have such a tough year in 1998-99 after the Cup run?

Johansson: No big secrets. We just had to realize that we’re not a good team if we don’t work hard. We’re not an offensive team or a very skilled team. We’re a working team. If we work and do the right things on the ice, we’re going to go a long way. If we think we’re better than we are, we have no chance to go anywhere. This year we’re trying to apply those lessons.

EuroReport: Looking ahead, would you like to play for Sweden again at the 2002 Winter Olympics?

Johansson: Sure. It’s always an honor to be part of your country’s Olympic team. I would love to do it again if I get the chance.